Improvement in fly-traps



PATENT Qrrrcn.

THOMAS SGANTLIN, or EVANSVILLE, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT lN F LV-TRAPS.

Specificationforming part of Letters Patent No. 184,730, dated November 28, 1876 application filed August 1, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS SCANTLIN, of the city of Evansville, county of Vanderburg, and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in WVire-Oloth Fly- Traps, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to entrap flies more rapidly than by the old methods, and to provide a fly-trap therefor which may be easily and cheaply made, and to continue the process of catching flies while other flies that are entrapped are being killed, and my invention consists of the construction and arrangement of devices as set forth and claimed.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved fly-trap, constructed of two sections, one above the other. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same, taken vertically, and shows the internal arrangement of parts. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the part E, detached.

A represents the upper section and B the lower section, in Figs. 1 and 2. O is the cover of the lower section B, and is provided with a flange or band, which is attached to the Wire-screen B, as shown. The upper central portion of the cover 0 is provided with a flanged opening, 0, which will be hereafter described. The bottom E of the lower section is formed much in the shape of an inverted saucer, having the outer edge 9 turned up as shown, for a finish, or it may be left perfectly straight if desired. On this bottom E is secured another band, 0 to which the lower edge of the screen B is also secured, thus uniting the top and bottom 0 and E, as shown. Near the center of the bottom E, on the floor f f, is a raised inner receptacle, E, the side walls of which extend upward a short distance and are then covered with the wirescreen D. This screen is turned up in its center in the direction of 'the arrow a, and is provided with an opening through which flies are allowed to crawl up from below the bottom E into the space above. The bottom E is supported on the bottom H by means of the standards I l, and the bottom H is provided with a central movable bait-cup, G. The outer edge of the bottom H is beveled off, so as to allow flies to freely enter between the bottom H and the bottom E, asat F, to

the bait-cup G. Above the section B is the section A. The bottom 0 is made to conform with the top of section B, and is provided with an opening in the center, to fit over the flange 0 as shown, and is further provided with a flange or band, 0 on the outer edge of the bottom 0 to which is attached the wire-screen A. The upper cover Kis also provided with a band or flange, to which the upper edge of the screen A is also secured, thus forming an upper section with an entrance only at the bottom, through which all flies pass in seeking the light after they have became satisfied with the bait below. The upper cap K is provided with a pointed tip, on which is held the cover L. This cover is removed from the cap K whenever it is necessary to remove the upper section A, and is then placed over the opening 0 of the lower section B, thus preventing the flies that have not yet passed into the upper section from getting out, while the others, that have gone into the upper section, are being destroyed. By this arrangement the lower section is always in service, and no interruption is made to flies entering it, although those that have gone into section A have been removed.

The flies enter at the beveled edges of the bottom H, through the space F, to the bait in cup G. Then they pass upward through the opening in the screen D, in the direction of the arrow at, but do not long remain there, but pass upward through the opening 0 into the upper chamber B, when they are removed and destroyed in the manner shown.

What I claim as new, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A wire-cloth fly-trap made in two sec tions, so that the upper section may be re-' moved to kill the accumulated flies, while the lower section remains in place, the process of catching flies continuing without interruption during said removal, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The base of the trap, consisting of the bottom H and bottom E, united by means of the standards 1 l, the bottom H being provided with the bait-cup G, and the bottom E having an inner receptacle, E, with opaque sides extending upward, and covered with a wire-cloth top, D, provided with an oblong central opening, a, at its top, arranged and adapted to be operated in the manner set forth and described.

3. The cap 0, provided with the tube 0, adapted to support and hold in place the upper section A, and at the same time-serving as a ceiling for the lower section B, and atfording a means of communication with'the said upper section, substantially as and for I the purposes-specified.

4. The cover L,ladapted to be used in connection with the tnheG toclose the lower section, and prevent the exit of flies from section B while section A is being emptied, as and for the purpose specified.

t 5., Aswan article-of manufacture, theufiytrap --consisting of two. sections, A; B, with the oupK, the tube 0 the cap 0, cover L,

the receptacle E D, the sloping flange E, the

bottom H, with its beveled edges and hole for the reception of cup G, as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my nameto this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS SGANTLIN.

-Witnesses:

E. 0. FRINK, I. F. RANDOLPH. 

